By: Anthony Q. Jiffan, Jr.
MONROVIA – BudgIT Liberia has successfully hosted a one-day youth dialogue to discuss gender-based budgeting, aimed at empowering young voices in Liberia’s fiscal decision-making process.
The event, held in partnership with Medica Liberia and Book Before Boys, took place at G.W. Gibson High School in Monrovia and brought together over 130 students, including 100 girls who benefited from the distribution of sanitary pads.
The initiative, which coincided with International Women’s Day, emphasized the importance of gender-responsive budgeting as a critical tool for addressing sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and empowering youth to advocate for equitable resource distribution and systemic change.
BudgIT Liberia, a civic tech organization dedicated to promoting fiscal transparency, good governance, and citizen engagement, seeks to ensure that Liberia’s national budget benefits all citizens.
The organization’s country lead, Abraham Varney, used the event as an opportunity to educate students on how the national budget can address gender disparities and support the fight against SGBV in Liberia.
Varney stressed that without adequate funding, the fight against SGBV remains ineffective and called for substantial budget allocations to support One-Stop Centers and safe homes across the country. He noted that funding for these centers is crucial for offering survivors medical care, legal aid, psychosocial support, and shelter.
Recent data on SGBV cases in Liberia reveals alarming trends. In 2019, there were 2,708 reported cases; in 2020, the number dropped to 2,240, and further decreased to 1,975 cases in 2022. However, in 2023, the number of reported cases surged to 3,204, with Montserrado County alone recording 1,279 cases. The majority of these cases involve rape, gang rape, and sodomy, with 66.4% of survivors being females under the age of 18.
Varney highlighted that the rising number of cases underscores the urgent need for stronger interventions to support survivors and prevent further violence, noting that Liberia currently lacks sufficient safe spaces for survivors, leaving many without essential support.
Medica Liberia’s Project Manager, Fenny Louise Taylor Diggs, discussed her organization’s efforts to provide safe spaces for SGBV survivors, including one-stop centers that offer comprehensive care. However, she expressed concern over the limited availability of these facilities, which leaves many survivors vulnerable.
She called on the government to increase investments in survivor support systems and ensure that every county has at least one fully operational safe home.
Mustapha Z. Sherman, a representative from Book Before Boys, emphasized the role of education in breaking the cycle of abuse and dependency. He urged female students to prioritize their education and career development.
He also challenged young men to reject harmful gender norms and become active advocates in the fight against SGBV and other forms of harassment faced by women.
The dialogue concluded with a collective call for urgent policy reforms and budget adjustments, including the establishment and sustainability of One-Stop Centers and safe homes across Liberia, as well as comprehensive survivor support programs offering medical, legal, and counseling services.
The participants also urged the integration of gender-responsive budgeting into national financial policies and called for expanded awareness campaigns to shift societal attitudes toward gender equity.
BudgIT Liberia, Medica Liberia, and Book Before Boys reaffirmed their commitment to these goals and pledged continued collaboration in the effort to drive systemic change.
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